FOLLOWING a thrilling season, the SJI Young Rider Championships took centrestage in Maryville, Co Cork, last weekend. Over the course of two days, riders battled it out and, without a doubt, the championship showcased future stars, making it a weekend to remember.
The overall leading rider championship for 2024 was Natasha Foley, with the reserve rider title going to Cian Byrne. Winner of the National Young Rider Championship was Sean Dooley, while the National Junior champion was Natasha Foley and reserve was Byrne.
Robbie Sheehan was crowned the National COH champion, with James Walsh taking the reserve title. The leading 1.40m rider was Daisy McNamara and reserve was Saoirse Hanafin.
The leading 1.30m rider was Gary Dooley and reserve was Jamie Clarke. Foley was leading 1.20m rider and reserve was Emma O’Connor. In the 1.10m section, Foley also took the leading rider title, with Byrne taking reserve. The leading 1m rider was Caoimhe Spacey and reserve went to Byrne.
Cian Byrne and Ciao Bella won the 1.10m Welcome Stakes and took the reserve overall leading rider championship at the Young Riders Championships at Maryville 2024 \ Claire Nolan / Bit-Media
Championships
On Sunday, riders put their best foot forward in a bid to take one of the coveted championship titles. Following a great season, Byrne added to his record, winning the 1.10m championship. Riding Ciao Bella, he lodged a double clear in 28.67. Byrne’s closest rival was Foley and Cillbhrid Excel, who kept all the poles intact in 29.77. Ciara Fives put in a gallant attempt with Mermus R Russel, jumping clear in 30.36, while Robbie Sheehan and Ahare Olympic Flemmencio were fourth in 31.84. Catherine O’Connor and Cassido, clear in 33.64, took fifth, ahead of Lily Maguire and Clenagh Castle Clover, clear in 35.25.
Sheehan later went on to take the win in the 1.10m Classic with Ahare Olympic Flemmencio.
Not content with the 1.10m Championship, Byrne also claimed the 1m Championship. Riding China Man, he lodged the winning round of clear in 21.82 seconds. Caoimhe Spacey (Ringwood Patience) took the reserve title, when clear in 24.65. Ellen O’Neill and Ballantines’ clear in 24.96 saw them take third, ahead of Mia Murphy and Enniskerry Pierro, clear in 25.14. Murphy and Enniskerry also claimed victory in the 90cm Challenge. Slotting into fifth place was Brona Keane and Krafty Krackers, clear in 25.49, while Gary Dooley and four-year-old, GD Quality Jack, were sixth (33.89).
Foley added to her record when she claimed the 1.20m Championship. Riding the very reliable Cillbhrid Excel, she lodged the winning round of clear in 29.46. James Brennan and MHS Versace took second place, coming home with nothing to add in 31.94. Connie McFadden and Domar Van De Neerheide took third in 35.31, while Emma O’Connor and Quality Diamond were fourth (37.57). Accounting for fifth place was Billy Sinnott and HHS Fort Lauderdale, clear in 40.10. Completing the top six was Catherine O’Connor and Gerald, clear in 40.41.
Jill Greene and BGS Biscaya won the 1.20m Classic, when clear in 27.04.
James Brennan and MHS Drops emerged as 1.30m Championship winners. The pairing was fastest of eight double clears in a very competitive class. Daisy McNamara put in a gallant attempt with Caspetito Z, crossing the line in 33.58. Billy Sinnott was less than a second behind on Ridge Douglas Lady in 34.40 for third. Anna White and Sbh Diamond In the Rough came home in 35.01 for eventual fourth. Gary Dooley was back in the placings, taking fifth with six-year-old Cynar De Ponthual Z (36.39). Completing the top six line-up was Camryn Clarke and Agassil (36.67).
The 1.40m Championship went down to the wire, with only two double clears being delivered in the six-way jump-off. Taking this title was McNamara, delivering the fastest of those clears aboard Caspetito Z in 37.64 seconds. James Brennan claimed the reserve title, when he was fractions behind with MHS Drops Of Jupiter (39.39). Brennan also put in a very fast round with MHS High Hopes, but a pole down in 38.83, put them in third. Saoirse Hanafin and Tinarana Global Venture took fourth, with one on the ground in 40.66. Billy Sinnott played it safe with Macgyver, but despite this, he incurrred four faults in 51.44 for fifth place. Isobel Sheehan and Athea Clover Trend finished with eight faults in 46.36 for sixth place.
Saturday
Junior rider, Foley got her Young Rider Championship off to a good start, taking the opening 1.10m Welcome Stakes on Saturday. Riding seven-year-old, Cillbhrid Excel, they were fastest of 15 clears in the two-phase class in a time of 28.56. Mervue Leinster league champion, Byrne was hot on Foley’s heels, crossing the line with Ciao Bella in 29.06. Connie McFadden also stayed within the 30-second mark with Domar Van De Neerheide in a time of 29.79. Maeve Coffey accounted for fourth place, when she clocked 30.71 with seven-year-old Creevaghstables Butler Jones. Fifth place belonged to Gary Dooley and six-year-old Absolute Fern, in 30.75, ahead of Ciara Fives and Mermus R Russel in 31.14.
The 1.20m challenge saw 36 combinations go to post and, from those, 14 maintained clean sheets. Leading this victory lap was Lily P Slattery and eight-year-old Captain Candy Man, crossing the line in 35.67. Foley and Cillbhrid Excel returned to the line-up, claiming runner-up spot with 37.36. Sean Dooley accounted for third place with Indie Girl in 37.84, ahead of Jamie Clarke and Sydney PMD, who clocked 39.43. Anna Coffey and I Kann Venture took fifth in 41.14, while Cara McFadden and six-year-old Orville Jack were sixth in 41.18.
Jamie Clarke and Sydney PMD emerged victorious in the 1.30m Classic, when they put in a super performance to deliver a double clear in 42.31. Clarke’s closest rival was Laura Hales and Killycloghan Knight Time, who also jumped clear in a time of 44.59. Hales also accounted for third place with eight-year-old Quatre Saisons Dwerse Hagen, clear in 45.64. Clarke took another share of the €1,000 prize fund, delivering a clear with Landlord 56 in 46.73. Mary Fitzgerald and Lafayette Van Overis were fifth (48.98), while in sixth was Gary Dooley and the six-year-old Cynar De Ponthual Z, in 50.44.
1.35m
Just 15 contested the 1.35m Table A class, where Gary Dooley and OCS Tolan won with a clear round in a very fast time of 77.79 seconds. Runner-up spot belonged to Eoghan McGrath and Larcata Wi Ro, when clear in 79.67. Fractions of a second behind was Hanafin and Tinarana Global Venture, clear in 80.47. Little separated the next placing, as Camryn Clarke and Conto De Reve clocked 81.12 for fourth, while McNamara and Caspetito Z were fifth (83.78). Completing the top six was McFadden and Genitus Pommex, clear in 86.47.
Yasmin Tanner and five-year-old Blondie Bouncer claimed the first 90cm class, when double clear in 35.34. Slotting into second was Louise Keane and Beles Bonne Chance, in 35.96. Kira O’Leary and four-year-old Keep Calm accounted for third, clear in 36.34, while in fourth was Laura Kennedy and Ashdale Benito, clear in 36.76. Taking fifth place was Anna Tarpey and Belfields Captain, when they were fastest of the four-faulters in 30.77, while in sixth was Ellen Clifford and four-year-old Carrabeg Sensation, six faults in 44.25.
In the 1m class, 22 lined out in a bid to take the €500 on offer. Taking the win was Hannah Curran, when fastest of nine double clears in 30.16. Caoimhe Spacey (Ringwood Patience) and Vicky Curran (Rnh Coco Chanel) both clocked 30.91 to share second place. Fourth place belonged to Laura Kennedy and Ashdale Benito, stopping the clock in 33.47. Slotting into fifth place was Yasmin Tanner and Blondie Bouncer, clear in 33.47, while in sixth was Joanie Walsh and Bellelake Sunrise (33.84).
Vicky Curran went one better in the 1.10m, taking the win with Rnh Coco Chanel, when lodging a clear in 29.56. Curran was chased home by James Walsh and Hermione, who delivered a clear in 30.07. Joanie Walsh also featured, taking third with Bellelake Sunrise, clear in 36.25. Slotting into fourth place was Yasmin Tanner and five-year-old Zlatnovia, when they incurred a single time fault. Fastest of the four-faulters and taking fifth place was Robbie Sheehan and Ahare Olympic Flemmencio. Hannah Curran also had one on the ground with BBH Elsa in 28.04 for sixth.
Taking victory in the 1.10m/1.20m Accumulator National Bursary Award was Lily Maguire and Clenagh Castle Clover, scoring 62 in a time of 52.71, beating off the challenge of closest rival Anna Coffey and I Kann Venture, in 53.78.